Tara Ashley , LICSW, LCSW

Tara Ashley is a licensed clinical social worker with 16 years of experience offering direct, down-to-earth support. She practices in Montana and focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, and life transitions. Tara also pays particular attention to women's issues, including pregnancy and childbirth concerns.

Her sessions are collaborative and straightforward. She listens first, then works with clients to set clear, manageable goals. Practical tools and simple skills are taught so people can use them between sessions.

Tara commonly helps with grief, compassion fatigue, sleep problems, anger, and self-esteem struggles. She also supports people dealing with divorce and separation, career questions, money stress, and feelings of isolation or shame. Her work includes guidance for those facing bipolar disorder and depression, and for people coping with post-traumatic stress.

Her style blends acceptance-focused methods, cognitive techniques, and client-centered care. She uses elements from dialectical behavior approaches and relationship-focused tools when helpful. The aim is to match methods to each person's needs rather than follow a single set plan.

Tara’s goal is to help people build resilience and find practical ways to move forward. Sessions are paced to what each person can handle, with room for check-ins and adjustments as life changes. She emphasizes clear next steps so progress feels real and measurable.

Therapeutic approaches you can use online

Tara draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and choose actions that match their values. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and helping people find their own answers. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at thought and behavior patterns and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful habits.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. Tara works with each person to see which methods fit their goals and preferences. She adapts the plan as progress is made so the work stays useful and manageable.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to offer flexibility. Video calls let people work face-to-face without travel. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief updates, homework support, or clients who prefer writing. These options make it easier to carry on therapy around work, parenting, or other commitments.